The ideal candidates are usually men or women who have a fairly good figure but have an accumulation of fat or excess skin in the abdomen. When this area does not improve with diet or exercise, abdominal surgery is usually indicated. This surgery is usually performed on women who have had multiple pregnancies. After these, the skin and abdominal muscles can relax and not recover the initial tone. This procedure can improve:

• Diastasis abdominis
• Abdominal hernias
• The caesarean section scar
• The presence of stretch marks below the navel

It can also improve the loss of skin elasticity in older people, a situation often associated with moderate obesity. In patients who need to lose a lot of weight, it is recommended to postpone surgery. This will also happen with patients who plan to have more children since during surgery, the vertical muscles of the abdomen are tensed and can relax again. If there are previous scars in the abdomen, this surgery may be contraindicated. In other cases, it manages to eliminate the scars, but it will be the surgeon who will determine the results of each case. Abdominal surgery is not indicated in patients with excess skin (called flap or dermochalasis) or abnormalities of the abdominal wall.

Abdominoplasty is an intense intervention, but the pain is variable and bearable. Your surgeon will prescribe painkillers and the appropriate treatment for your postoperative period. You must bear in mind that in the first days the abdomen will be swollen and you may notice discomfort that will be relieved with the medication prescribed by your surgeon. On some occasions, the patient will be in the clinic for a few days, depending on each case and what has been agreed with the specialist. When you can shower, the surgeon will tell you how to do it as well as how to change the bandages. In addition, he will recommend that you walk when you are more recovered to avoid venous thrombi. After a week, the surgeon will remove the external stitches. As for the internal stitches, up to 3 weeks may be necessary. It is essential that you wear the postoperative girdle day and night for a month as it is essential for recovery and for shaping the body. It can take a few weeks to feel like yourself again. If your physical condition before surgery is good and your abdominal muscles are strong, recovery will be faster. Moderate exercise is important as it will help reduce inflammation and tone muscles. Some people return to work in about 2 weeks, while others need 3 to 4 weeks of rest and recovery.

The results are visible from the first day. The skin of the abdomen is tight, the belly is flatter and slimmer, even if it is swollen during the first few months. The first week after the operation, it is common to feel tightness and tension in the abdomen. During the first months, it is absolutely normal to also notice some numbness and swelling. Patients are generally happy with the result, which allows them to feel better in their body and have better self-esteem. The final results will be visible after a year and the scar will continue to evolve for the next two years. In most cases the results are definitive, as long as there is no pregnancy and it is accompanied by a healthy diet and physical exercise. It is recommended that at least in the first month the diet be free of dairy, spicy meat, pork and shellfish since allergies can occur and above all you have to drink a lot of water. If you are realistic with your expectations and can tolerate the presence of a permanent but concealable abdominal scar and a long recovery period, a tummy tuck may be right for you.